Massey boasted the inclusion of six returning Super Rugby players, which gave their backline a start-studded look, while the North Shore pack boasted an equally impressive array of names, making for a true forwards vs backs battle.
Centre Pita Ahki, signed to the Hurricanes for 2016, crossed for a try, along with Matt Vaega and Gerard Tuioti-Mariner. North Shore also scored three tries, and secured a bonus point, but they will now refocus for their home semifinal at Vauxhall Road against Walter Little's Glenfield.
Northcote have also had a further injection of players coming back from Super Rugby duties and injury and have made a late run to give the end of their season some respectability. They came up against an East Coast Bays side that was desperate for the win, which would have seen them a chance to secure a semis berth. But Northcote just proved to be too strong and held them out 22-15, despite three tries apiece, to kill off their hopes. Prop Nic Mayhew and 2014 North Harbour captain Bryn Hall were among the tryscorers. Bays miss the semifinals by two competition points.
Silverdale provided the surprise result of the round, beating Takapuna 28-20 for just their second win of the season. Raniera Takarangi scored a double, while David McMurtrie picked up 13 points with the boot.
This weekend's plate semis will see East Coast Bays play Silverdale and Takapuna take on Northcote.
Auckland
(Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield)
Grammar TEC 51 Pakuranga 12
Waitemata 32 Manukau 5
University 38 Marist 19
Papatoetoe 38 Ponsonby 31
(Portola Trophy)
Suburbs 12 Eden 12
East Tamaki 23 Otahuhu 15
Waitakere City 32 Maungarua 32
The Grammar TEC juggernaut cranked into top gear to hammer Pakuranga 51-12 at Orakei Domain and secure the club its first Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield since 2012, when it was operating as Grammar-Carlton.
Pakuranga harboured hopes of winning the silverware for the first time since their seminal 2013 season, but from the get-go the home side, working off swift breakdown ball, used their big, pacy backline to devastating effect. They fielded seven Auckland ITM Cup squad members, while Pakuranga had two, one of whom, Mitchell Hunt, was originally named at first five, but took the field at fullback.
After fullback Brendan Ward opened the account at just three minutes, Grammar TEC remained in control. No 8 Michael Faleafa made inroads on the fringes, and finished two top team tries, while hooker Andrew Makalio carried strongly. Centre Dave Thomas was equally effective on the left flank, and he too scored a brace. By halftime, at 25-5, Pakuranga was staring at a hefty defeat. They did score a fine try of their own to centre George Emosi out wide, and their scrum was solid enough to cause Grammar TEC some second spell problems, including a penalty try, but their backline passing was laboured, in direct contrast to their opponents. Flanker Dave Adams hacked away manfully. The home side ran in four tries in the final quarter off well executed moves to book a home semifinal on Saturday against Waitemata.
The westerners endured a torrid opening from Manukau Rovers, but eventually ran away with a 32-5 win, wing Ed Fidow scoring a hat-trick. Blues and Auckland wing Melani Nanai scored Manukau's sole try.
University leapfrogged Pakuranga into second and a home semifinal against the east Aucklanders after a 38-19 victory over Marist which also clinched the Dave Grace Memorial Trophy. Varsity were clinical in the first half, scoring four tries, but took the foot off the accelerator as Marist mounted a late comeback, with a Tim Timo double. But it was all to no avail.
Papatoetoe won their first game of the second round and heaped more misery on Ponsonby to the tune of 38-31, centre Jorji Kuruisaqila scored two of Papatoetoe's five tries.
A feature of the weekend was the return of most Super Rugby and New Zealand Under 20 players, which helped raise the profile and standard.
In the Portola Trophy, there were two draws, Suburbs and Eden (12-all) and Waitakere City and Maungarua (32-all), while East Tamaki beat Otahuhu 23-15.
Counties Manukau
(McNamara Cup)
Ardmore Marist 21 Pukekohe 15
Karaka 41 Onewhero 0
Bombay 28 Patumahoe 16
Manurewa 19 Waiuku 12
The finishing order for the McNamara Cup semifinals is set: top qualifiers Karaka will host Pukekohe, while Counties Power Cup holders Ardmore-Marist welcome defending champs Bombay to their home patch.
Three of the four premier matches on Saturday were tight affairs as the big guns jostled for the best position on the log.
Ardmore-Marist were the big movers, getting up to secure home advantage in the semis with a 21-15 win over Pukekohe. In what was a tough battle, the intensity by the two teams had shifted into finals fever. A breakout try to Karl Ropati, who had a strong game, kick-started Ardmore-Marist. Pukekohe then hit back with a two tries of their own before Jonathan Taumateine kept the points ticking over for Ardmore-Marist. Steelers prop Jarrod Firth got Ardmore their second try. Pukekohe's tries came from Connor Brooke-Cowden, Jarrod Stevenson and Jared Page, who had a strong game at fullback.
Bombay sealed third position and were able to warm up for the semifinals with a 28-16 win over fifth-placed Patumahoe. Bombay's points came from tries to Piers Francis, Sam Vaka and Liam Daniela, while Francis added a conversion and two drop goals.
Sam Furniss scored Patumahoe's only try, with the rest of their points coming from a conversion and two penalties by Riley Hohepa and a drop goal from Kane Hancy.
Karaka outplayed Onewhero 41-0. Wing Tavite Gadeisuva reclaimed the lead on the tryscoring charts with a hat-trick in what was also his blazer match. Kieron Rollinson's two conversions took him to the top of the points leaderboard.
Manurewa finished their season with a 19-12 win over Waiuku to move up to sixth place. It was a scrappy match, with Manurewa unable to finish off a number of good opportunities due to strong defence by Waiuku. Both sides finished with 14 players due to sinbinnings. Manurewa trainer Josh Levi had to take the field after halftime due to injuries.
Thames Valley
Waihou 23 Te Aroha COBRAS 10
Mercury Bay 20 Hauraki North 20
Bay of Plenty
(Baywide premier)
Tauranga Sports 24 Mount Maunganui Sports 3
Greerton Marist 87 Opotiki 5
Te Puke Sports 32 Whakatane Marist 21
Whakarewarewa 40 Waikite 0
Rangataua 28 Rotoiti 27
Te Puna 66 Paroa 7
Rotoiti, who entered the last round of the Baywide Premier qualifying competition in fourth place, were bundled out of the playoffs when Rangataua got home by a solitary point in a thriller at Te Ariki Park.
The Rotorua visitors made the running in the first half of the encounter in the Western Bay of Plenty to lead 17-11 at halftime. Rangataua fought back in the second spell with the home side taking out the match 28-27. Daiyu Ishimori, Tute Grant and Chase Tiatia scored touchdowns for the winners with Rangataua's ace goalkicker John Ririnui slotting three penalties and two conversions. Papa Wharewera grabbed a double for Rotoiti with Beau Kiel dotting down for the visitors' third try.
The Rangataua victory means that Whakarewarewa, who posted 40 unanswered points against Waikite, have leapfrogged Rotoiti on the standings and will take the fourth playoff position.
Te Puke Sports finished as top qualifier in the Baywide Premier title race and will host Whakarewarewa at Murray Salt Stadium in Te Puke. On Saturday they defeated Whakatane Marist, who led 9-7 at halftime. Te Puke upped the ante in the second spell to take out the encounter 32-21. The Te Puke tries were awarded to Tim Bond, Connor Hirini, Jono Kitto, Curtis Deane, and Dave Whitecliffe-Davies, with Dan Hollinshead slotting five goals.
Tauranga Sports and defending premier titleholders Mount Maunganui will meet again next weekend at the Tauranga Domain in the other semifinal, after Tauranga Sports beat Mount Maunganui 24-3. The first half was a battle of real intensity with both sides taking fbew backward steps. Lewis Hancock and Jason Harvey scored a try apiece for the home side, who led 17-3 at the break.
The match went off the boil in the second spell before Hamish Gosling was rewarded with his team's third try. John Dodd converted all three Tauranga Sports tries from out wide on the sideline. A notable achievement was notched up by skipper Carl Axtens, who was playing his 50th game in the blue and gold uniform.
Whakarewarewa grabbed six tries in their 40-0 win over Waikite. Te Rangi Fraser took his season tryscoring tally to 20, having scored a touchdown (or more) in all 11 Baywide rounds.
In other round 11 action, Greerton Marist posting a big win over Opotiki, running in 13 tries on their way to a 87-5 victory, with Caleb Hall scoring four tries. Te Puna also posted a big total, outgunning Paroa 66-7 in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, with double touchdowns awarded to Shahn Eru, Wally Mill and Aiden Kuka.
Waikato
(Waikato Breweries Shield)
Semifinals
Hamilton Marist 29 Hamilton Old Boys 24
University 27 Otorohanga 24
King Country
Coast 29 Kio Kio 20
Pio Pio 92 Taumarunui Districts 0
Tongariro 32 Taupo United 15
Waitete 16 Taumarunui Eels 9
Waitomo 38 Taupo Sports 13
East Coast
Semifinals
Hicks Bay 20 Hikurangi 19
Tokararangi 22 Uawa 15
Poverty Bay
Ngatapa 34 Pirates 19
YMP 15 OBM 10
Hawke's Bay
Hastings Rugby and Sports 16 Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 6
Havelock North 80 Tamatea 0
Napier Old Boys-Marist 36 MAC 21
Central 22 Napier Technical 19
Taradale 77 Clive 7
Taranaki
Semifinals
NPOB 50 Spotswood United 12
Inglewood 23 Tukapa 18 (double overtime)
Wanganui
Border 29 Marist 7
Pirates 42 Ratana 25
Taihape 49 Kaierau 12
Ruapehu 45 Utiku OB 6
Manawatu
(Hankins Shield)
Semifinals
College Old Boys 22 Varsity 12
Kia Toa 23 Old Boys-Marist 14
(Val Holland Memorial Trophy)
Semifinals
Te Kawau 35 Feilding 19
Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 41 Linton Army 31
Wairarapa-Bush
East Coast 53 Carterton 9
Eketahuna 27 Marist 12
Pioneer 23 Greytown 22
Horowhenua Kapiti
Paraparaumu 54 Levin College Old Boys 8
Waikanae 22 Foxton 13
Wellington
(Jubilee Cup)
Marist St Pat's 31 Petone 15
Wainuiomata 18 Hutt Old Boys-Marist 15
Wellington 29 Oriental-Rongotai 22
Old Boys-University 26 Tawa 20
Tasman
(Nelson Bays)
Semifinals
Kahurangi 20 Waimea Old Boys 19
Wanderers 28 Marist 13
(Marlborough)
Semifinals
Moutere 35 Harlequins 17
Central 35 Waitohi 11
West Coast
Semifinals
Blaketown 24 Marist 11
Kiwi 31 South Westland 11
(McLean Shield)
Wests 24 Grey Valley 10
Canterbury
(Metro, Hawkins Cup)
Lincoln University 39 New Brighton 10
Marist Albion 34 Christchurch 17
Sydenham 54 University 15
HSOB 56 Belfast 12
Sumner 22 Shirley 15
Linwood 31 Burnside 29
Mid Canterbury
(Watters Cup)
Celtic 44 Hampstead 7
Methven 23 Rakaia 14
South Canterbury
Harlequins 22 Celtic 19
Pleasant Point 19 Old Boys 16
Mackenzie 22 Geraldine 7
Waimate 25 Temuka 22
North Otago
Old Boys 38 Athletic Marist 6
Kurow 43 Valley 7
Excelsior 31 Maheno 7
Otago
(Metro)
Taieri 46 Dunedin 8
Southern 24 Harbour 22
Zingari-Richmond 34 Alhambra-Union 17
University A 60 Green Island 24
Kaikorai 46 Pirates 31
(Central Otago)
Maniototo 17 Upper Clutha A 14
Cromwell 33 Upper Clutha B 22
Alexandra 35 Wakatipu 24
Arrowtown 43 Roxburgh 3
Matakanui Combined 74 Wakatipu Wanderers 0
Southland
(Galbraith Shield)
Semifinals
Star 35 Woodlands 10
Marist 43 Eastern-Northern Barbarians 27
